SICILY, Italy

REGIONAL CAPITAL : Palermo
PROVINCIAL CAPITALS : Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Catania, Enna, Messina, Ragusa, Siracusa, Trapani
OYHER INTERESTING PLACES : Monreale, Cefalù, Parco Naturale Regionale delle Madonie, Isole Eolie, Taormina, Mt. Etna, Isole Pelagie, Marsala, Erice, Se gesta, Isole Egadi.

TERRITORY:
Sicilia is the longest island in the Mediterranean and its strategic location made it a prize for many invaders. As well as Greek temples there are roman riuns, Norman churches and castles, Arab and Byzantine domes and beautiful examples of baroque architecture. This island is wit no doubt one of the most wonderful and representative regions of Italy: here you can find history, tradition, art, natural beauties and fabulous food.

PLACES TO SEE:
Palermo: the Quattro Canti (Four Corners), centre of the oldest part of the town; Piazza Pretoria; Chiesa di San Matteo; La Martorana (Chiesa di Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio); the cathedral; Palazzo dei Normanni; Chiesa di San Giovanni degli Eremiti; Museo Archeologico Regionale; Palazzo Chiaromonte-Steri; Galleria Regionale della Sicilia; Chiesa di Santa Maria dello Spasimo; Catacombe dei Cappuccini; Castello della Zisa; Teatro Massimo.
Monreale: the 12th century Norman cathedral.
Cefalù: an attractive beachside village; the Duomo; Museo Mandralisca; Tempio di Diana.
Capo Tindari: ruins of the ancient Tyndaris; Santuario della Madonna Nera.
Messina: the cathedral; the Fontana di Orione; Chiesa della SS. Annunziata dei Catalani ; Fontana del Nettuno; Museo Regionale.
Taormina: Teatro Greco ( the view of Mt. Etna and the sea through what was once the stage area is breathtaking! ); Parco dei Duchi di Cesarò; the Odeon roman theatre; the cathedral; Palazzo Corvaja; Palazzo Duca di Santo Stefano; Badia Vecchia(Old Abbey);the Monte Tauro; ruins of the medieval castle; the beaches of Isola Bella and Mazzarò.
Catania: Piazza del Duomo and its Fontana dell’Elefante; the cathedral; Palazzo del Municipio; Badia di S. Agata; Teatro Massimo Bellini; Palazzo dell’Università; Palazzo San Giuliano; ruins of the roman theatre; Museo Belliniano; Chiesa di San Niccolò all’Arena;Villa Bellini; Castello Ursino.
Siracusa: the island of Ortigia: the cathedral,Palazzo Beneventano,Palazzo Arcivescovile, Chiesa di S. Lucia alla Badia, the Fontana Aretusa, tempio di Apollo, Parco Archeologico della Neapolis, Museo del Papiro.
Agrigento: Valle dei Templi( Valley of the Temles) with its five magnificent main Doric temples.
Selinunte: the ancient greek city of Selinus and its temples.
Trapani: Palazzo della Giudecca; Chiesa di S. Maria di Gesù; Chiesa di S. Agostino; Chiesa del Collegio dei Gesuiti; Santuario dell’Annunziata; Museo Pepoli.
Segesta: the remains of ancient greek temples and theatre.

REGIONAL CUISINES:
Typical diches are: padta con le sarde,with sardines,wild fennel, pine nuts and raisins; caponata, a vegetable stouter with aubergines and capers; arancini, breaded rice balls stuffed with meat sauce and peas then fried; cartocciate,focaccia stuffed with ham, mozzarella,olives and tomato; cassata, arich sponge cake filled with ricotta, liqueur and candied fruit; cannoli, tubes of sweet pastry filled with sweet ricotta, pieces of chocolate and candied fruit; paste di mandorla, almond pastries, granita a drink of crushed ice flavoured with almond milk. Among the wines try white Malvasia and Marsala.

TRADITIONAL FESTIVITIES:
In Catania on 3-5 February is celebrated the Feast of the patron saint S. Agata: the fercolo ( a silver reliquary bust of the saint covered in jewels) is carried along the main street; in the end there also are spectacular fireworks.During the Holy Week at Easter Enna becomes the setting for colorful traditional celebrations: on Good Friday thousands of people wearing hoods and capes of different colors partecipate to a solemn procession to the cathedral. In Agrigento on the first sunday in February is set the folk Festival of the Almond Blossom. In Trapani is performed Sicily’s most venerated Easter procession, a four-day festival of extraordinary fervour.

Sicily, Italy - map